Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

Apologies have been received from Deputy Réada Cronin. No. 1 on the agenda is engagement with the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, on carbon budgets, which is the purpose of our meeting today. The carbon budget represents the total amount of emissions that may be emitted in the State in the five-year period, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 and 2021. Dáil Éireann referred the latest carbon budget programme, covering 2031 to 2035, with a provisional budget proposal for 2036 to 2040, on 20 May 2025. We are required to report back to Dáil Éireann by 6 October.

I welcome the following witnesses to our meeting. Ms Marie Donnelly is online. She is chairperson of the CCAC. Mr. George Hussey and Ms Meabh Gallagher are the secretariat manager, and carbon budgets team lead, respectively, for the CCAC. They are all very welcome.

I ask everybody to make sure they have their mobile phones either on silent mode or switched off. Before I invite representatives to make their opening statements, I advise everybody of the following in respect of parliamentary privilege. Just bear with me as we have to go through this. Witnesses and members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in any such way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

With regard to the way the meeting will operate, I will invite the witnesses to make an opening statement for a maximum of five minutes. Once that has been delivered, I will then call on members of the committee in the order in which they indicate to me to put their questions. This committee operates a rota that provides each member with an initial six minutes to engage with our witnesses. It is important to note that the six minutes is for both questions and answers, so it is essential that members put their questions succinctly and that witnesses are succinct in their responses. When all members who have indicated have had their initial engagement, and time permitting, we will do a second round, where each member will have to up to three minutes for both questions and answers. Please note that we have a limited duration for the meeting and, therefore, the times must be strictly adhered to. I ask everyone to be focused on their contributions.

I call the CCAC representatives to deliver their opening statement, which will delivered by Ms Marie Donnelly online, as chairperson.